Safe.



No. 662,428. Patented Nov. 27, I900.

H. D. HIBBARD.

SAFE.

(Application filed May 7, 1898.)

(N0 Modal.) 3 ShBfitS-$hBei l- WITNESSES: /N VE N 7'05 No. 662.428.Patented Nov. 27, I900. I

H. n. HIBBARI).

SAFE. 1

(Application filed. May 7, 1898.)

I (No Model.)

d in mmum A TTOHNEY.

' Patented Nov. 27, I900. H. D. HIBBARDJ 8 A F E (Application filed May7, 189B.)

3 Sheets-Shunt a.

INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEY m: NORRIS pawns co, PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON,o. c.

UNITED STATES j HENRY D. I-IIBBARD, OF NORTH PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY,ASSIGNOR TO THE HIBBARDRODMAN-ELY SAFE COMPANY, OF HIGH BRIDGE, NEW

SAIFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 662,42, dated November27, 1900.

Application filed May 7, 1898. Serial No. 679,976. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY D. HIBBARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at North Plaintield, Somerset county, in the State of NewJersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inBurglar-Proof Safes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to burglar-proof safes,vaults,or analogousstructures com prising a body and a door, each of which is shown in itspreferred form as an integral structure, one object of the inventionbeing to furnish an improved safe so constructed that the metal at allparts thereof will be substantially uniform,whereby it may besuccessfully subjected to heat treatment, while providing an increasedthickness of metal and a relatively long hearing or joint around thedoor.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved integralsafe-body having around the doorway thereof increased thickness of metalobtained by the provision of an external and an internal flange, themetal around such doorway being maintained substantially uniform withthat of the major part of the body by the provision of means which alsoacts to receive the locking-bolts carried by the door. v

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved integralsafe-door comprising a body and a flange, said flange having an offsetand bolt-openings intermediate said oifset and said body.

In the drawings accom panying and forming part of this, specification,Figure 1 is a side view of the front portion of a safe constructed inaccordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionthereof. Fig. 3 is front view of such safer Fig. 4 is a verticalsectional view taken in line 4 4, Fig. 2, looking from the rear thereof.Figs. 5 and 6 represent the door on a larger scale, Fig. 5 being a rearview and Fig. 6 an edge view, partlyin section. Fig. 7 illustrates amodification of the pintle connecting the door with the crane-hinge.Fig. 8 is a plan view showing part of the crane-hinge and thedoor-adjusting means; and Fig. 9 is a view corresponding with Fig. 4with a portion removed, the parts being shown on an enlarged scale.

Similar characters of referenceindicate corresponding partsin all thefigures of the drawings.

As a preface to a further description of the present improvement it isunderstood that the structure may be either stationary or portable andmay, if desired, be inclosed in another safe or casing of heat-resistingqualities to make the construction fireproof. In the present instancethe improvement is shown embodied in a safe of moderate: size, which maybe carried on an ordinary cradle and placed in an office with or withoutsuch adjunct.

The present improvement comprises in a general way a body having a doorway or opening provided with an improved construction of seat or jambfor the reception of a door, an improved door adapted to be seated insaid opening, and means for securing the door to its seat.

The advance in the burglars art, due chiefly to the introduction ofnitroglycerin as an aid in safe-breaking, demands that the highestproperties obtainable in metals should be utilized in the manufacture ofsafes to secure treasure from the attacks of the modern burglar. Notonly is the highest quality of metal required, but also largebearing-surfaces are necessary at the joints to distribute the effect ofcharges of high explosives, such as nitroglycerin, fired against thesafe, while offsets,

or steps against which the effect of a liquid explosive would be seriousmust be so located thatit is practicably impossible to reach them.

Moreover, in order to secure the highest propthis material, however,with any reasonable degree of practicability, the structure formedtherefrom must have, as above stated, substantially uniform thicknessand not be too massive, since if it is too thick in any part it will notbe properly affected by the heat treatment and isin danger of beingruptured by the internal strains set up Within its mass. It has alsobeen found in working with manganese steel by casting and subsequentheat treatment that an imperfect condition of the interior exists if anyof the parts are too thick. This imperfect condition results ininvisible internal cavities when the metal is sectioned. It is notnecessary to determine whether these are due to imperfect filling orstrains in the shrinkage during the casting process or are due mainlyand entirely to slow conduction and strains involved in the slow heatingor rapid cooling during the heat treatment. It is sufficient that theyare present unless the parts are formed in such manner that they can bereadily subjected to heat treatment, and this necessitates that theparts he not too massive, while at the same time they must besufficiently thick to withstand the attack of the burglar. This isobtained in the present improvement by the use of a moderate thicknessof metal throughout, even at the flange portions of the body around-thedoor, whereby'the metal is homogeneous and maintained in its highestintegrity at all parts thereof.

To secure the above advantages in a practicable manner is the object ofthe present invention, and that this object has been successfullyaccomplished is demonstrated by practicable tests heretofore made.

In the form thereof herein shown and described, and which may be itspreferred form, if desired, this improved safe comprises a body A,formed of a single casting and of any desired or suitable shape, itbeing shown herein substantially rectangular in shape, whereby it isprovided with side and rear walls, having a front wall A projectinginwardly from such side walls, such front wall having a doorway providedwith an elongated door seat or jamb A This body is of substantiallyuniform thickness and is provided around the doorway with rings, beads,flanges, or projections, one, as A on the exterior and the other, as A,on the interior, both integral with such body, thereby increasing thethickness of that part of the body which encircles the doorway. Theprovision of the rearwardly-extending flange A around the dooropeningforms a recess 0 intermediate said flange and the inner face of the sidewalls adjacent thereto, whereby the mass of metal around thedoor-opening is maintained substantially uniform with the thickness ofthe heat treatment of the body.

other portions of the body. The absence of .this' recess or anequivalent provision would of the flange A being shown in the presentinstance as substantially square with the jamb or joint surface of thebody. By the provision of these rings of metal the safefront in thepresent instance has ogee outer and inner faces, so that such front thuscomprises a part of substantially uniform thick ness with the majorportion of the body and a part diverging from such part of uniformthickness to form an elongated jamb'or seat, the metal around such jainbthus projecting or being swelled outwardly beyond the face of suchuniform part or the normal face of the front and rearwardly beyond theface of such uniform part and into the interior of the body.

By constructing the body in the manner specified all parts thereof aresubstantially uniform, since while the front is so constructed as toprovide an elongated joint-surface or jamb, yet the thickness of themetal transversely of such jamb is substantially no greater than thethickness of the metal atother parts thereof. The thickness of the jambis also materially reduced in the direction of its length by theprovision of an opening for the reception of each bolt, and whichopening is shown herein as an annular groove a, cored in the casting.This groove thus acts not only to reduce the thickness of the metal atthis point, thereby to facilitate the heat treatment of the body at suchpoint, but it also acts to receive the bolts which look the door in itsseat. In the form shown this annular recess is located relatively remoteto the outer face of the body-front.

V Intersecting the seat in the rear of the boltreceiving groove a is anannular offset or step d. By forming the groove in advance of such stepit will be seen that any nitroglycerin which might by any possibility beWorked into the joint would flow into this groove, and so be preventedfrom reaching the offset, it being a difficult matter to fire the samewhile in such groove. This groove thus not only acts to maintain auniformity of metal around the doorway and to receive the locking-bolts,but it also acts as a protective medium to the offset, the provision ofwhich is essential in order to prevent any part of the door being forcedinwardly independently of the body.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the jamb or seat for the door isgiven relatively great length, which is an essential feature, and sincethe length of this jamb should be greater than the thickness of themetal in the rest of the body or in the body or main plate of the doorthis is obtained in a practicable manner by providing the internal andexternal flanges, one diverging outwardly and the other rearwardly fromthe side of the safe or from that part of the front which issubstantially uniform with the rest of the body. By the provision ofthese flanges not only is the seat or jamb of the door elongated, butthe body adjacent to such door is reinforced in a practicable mannerother than by the mere provision of a mass of metal at this point, theouter flange A particularly reinforcing the safe-body in such mannerthat the opening of the joint between the body and the door is preventedby hammering or by the explosion of heavy charges adjacent thereto,since this flange acts under such attacks to permit the metal thereof toyield radially, the radial line being that of least resistance to thereluctant motion of the particles of metal which are displaced bv theexplosion, so that on an explosion or on continued hammering at onepoint this flange will yield outwardly, together with a portion of themetal of the door adjacent to the jamb, without causing such joint toopen each side of the point hammered. In other words, should a charge ofexplosive material be fired, for instance, on the door adjacent to thejoint, the result would be to cause a portion of the metal of the doorand a portion of the metal of the body-flange A to' yield together inthe same direction, thereby preventing the opening of the joint aroundsuch door, since a metal-to-metal joint or contact throughout thisyielding action will be preserved. This would not be the case, however,if such flange or bead were not provided, since the mass of metal in thebody proper around the door would be such that there could be noyielding thereof in any direction, so that the force of the explosionwould act in such manner as to open the joint either by cracking themetal when the charge is sufficient or in other ways, thereby to permitthe insertion of a charge of nitroglycerin.

The door in the presentinstance comprises a circular body or plate B, ofsubstantially uniform thickness with the walls of the body A, and aninternal flange B, such flange forming, with the body, at the peripheryof the door an elongated tapered joint-surface, shown hereincorresponding to the joint-surface or seat of the body. The outermarginal face of the door is coned to be flush with the outer face ofthe external flange A and also substantially square with the edge of thedoor, and consequently with the joint formed around the same. Thedoor-flange B is pro vided with an offset cl, registering with theoffset din the jamb of the body, and is also provided intermediate suchoffset and its body B with bolt apertures or openings 1) for the passageof the locking-bolts. By this construction it will be seen that thesebolt apertures or openings protect the offset in the door, since shouldnitroglycerin be forced into the joint it would flow through theseboltapertures into the interior of the safe, where it would beimpossible in any practicable manner to explode it, so that theseapertures b, together with the groove a in the body, not only constitutea means to permit the proper working of the bolts, .but also a means ofpreventing nitroglycerin from reaching the steps 01 d, where its effectwould be serious.

By providing the door with an internal flange a recess is provided onthe interior of the door for the reception of suitable bolt mechanismhereinafter described,while at the same, time a substantially uniformthickness of metal in the door is maintained, while furnishing arelatively long joint-surface, which is an essential feature in safeconstruction, since this joint-surface cooperating with the elongatedjamb furnishes large surfaces of metal, which favor the transmission ofshocks from the door to the body, or vice versa, without damaging themetal, while also greatly aiding to prevent the door being forcedinwardly on one side by the effect of a charge of explosive tired nearthe edge, the ofifsets or steps also coacting, as hereinbefore setforth, to prevent the door from being forced inwardly. By the provisionof long jointsurfaces it is also possible to have the offsets locatedsuch a relatively great distance away from the front of the door as tomaterially reduce the chances of a burglar working nitroglycerin so farinto the joint as to reach them.

Since the particular construction of locking mechanism shown hereinconstitutes the subject-matter of a separate application, Serial No.16,402, filed May 12, 1900, and since also the particularconstruction ofthe hinge mechanism shown constitutes the subject-matter of a separateapplication, Serial No. 16,250, filed May 11, 1900, it is deemednecessary herein only to give a general description thereof, referencebeing had to such applications for more particular descriptions thereof.

Formed on the outer side of the front are a pair of ears A in positionto support the door by means of a pin or pintle D, extending throughsuch ears and a pair of cars of a suitable crane-hinge O, which isconnected with the door by a suitable pin or pintle E, extending throughthe forwardly-extending ends of said hinge C and a pair of ears B of thedoor. This hinge may be of ordinary steel. Secured to the pin or pintleE is a bandle E, by which the door may be partially rotated. The pin Eis provided at its lower end with an extension E slightly eccentric tothe axis of said pin, and which extension carries a wheel F, which whenthe door is closed lies nearly in contact with the adjacent surface ofthe body A. Its function is to aid in overcoming friction and inertia inopening the door after it has been unlocked. To accomplish this, the pinE is partially rotated by the handle E, thereby bringing the wheel int-oslightly-rolling contact with the body of the safe, and consequentlydrawing the door outwardly to the extent of a fraction of an inch, whichdoor may then be pulled outwardly by the handle 0, provided for thepurpose. In the modification shown in Fig. 7 the pintle E may also havea similar construction at its upper end, whereby the same effect will beobtained at the upper and lower ends of the door simultaneously.

The handle 0 has a threaded shank and is turned into a projecting lug Cof the cranehinge, the inner end thereof engaging the face of the-doorand acting as a set-gage to 'crane-hinge, so as to carry the doorfarther to the right or left or to carry it higher or lower or toefifect this in both directions, as

required, suitable means is provided. Even when the measurements arecarefully made and the parts are lined up with accuracy there is still achance that the door through slight springing of the crane-hinge orthrough other causes may not when brought toward its closed positioncoincide exactly with the seat in the doorway. A screw H is tapped intothe crane-hinge at its upper bearing with the pin D and acts upon asuitable bearing-block H, (see Figs. 3 and 8,) by which the position ofthe hinge-bearing at the top may be adjusted at will. A key 0 is driventransversely through said crane-hinge at its lower bearing with said pinD and acts upon a similar bearing-block 0, whereby the lower bearing maybe adjusted. By turning the screw H inwardly, so as to lift the door andalso move it to the right and moving the key 0 to adjust its bearing inthe opposite directionthat is, inwardly-so as to lift the door and'alsomove it to the left, the door will be raised withoutaffecting itsposition laterally. By shifting both of these adjusting devices in thesame direction the door may be shifted bodily to the right or left.

The locking mechanism embodies a series of radially-shiftable swingingbolts G, the in. ner ends of which abut when in their locking positionagainst a suitable boss B integral with the door-body B. The flange Bhas a series of bolt-apertures 1) formed therein, as hereinbefore setforth, such apertures being shown as tapered to provide for the swingingor lateral movement of the bolts. The inner end of each of these bolts,which is shown somewhat reduced in diameter, is secured by a headlesspin I to a rocking plate I, formed on its periphery as a worm-wheel andwhich rocking plate is mounted on a stud J, projecting from a plate J,forming the back plate of the door, a suitable screw H and washer Hmaintaining such worm-wheel in position. This back plate is maintainedin position by suitable bolts K entering soft-metal or wrought-ironinserts L, located in the flange B of the door. In engagement with thisWorm-Wheel I is a worm M, the shaft M of which is supported in suitablebearings. One end of this worm shaft carries a loosely" mountedbevel-gear M the hub of which forms one member of a clutch. Splined tothis worm-shaft for rotation therewith and longitudinal movementrelatively thereto is the other member W of this clutch, it beingshifted by suitable connections, such as a pair in a suitable casing Qand which locking mechanism is provided with a spindle Q for operatingthe same. Projecting through the door is a spindle P, the outer end ofwhich is adapted to be turned by a suitable crank, while the inner endcarries a bevel-gear P inmesh with the bevel-gear M mounted on theworm-shaft. When the clutch member W has been shifted by thecombination-lock into position to engage the Worm-shaft bevelgear M suchgear will thereupon turn with the worm-shaft, so that on the rotation ofthe spindle P the bevel-gear I will be turned thereby to rotate theworm-shaft and the worm-wheel, and thus withdraw or force outwardly thebolts.

The amount of grinding required in forming the door is reduced byproviding a relatively narrow raised surface B on one as the inner faceof each bolt-aperture b and a pair of correspondingly-raised surfaces Band B on the opposite or outer facesof such aperture. Sufficient bearingis afforded by these raised surfaces to give and maintain the requiredclose fit under all the strains to which the parts can be subjected byany ordinary violence,while the amount of manganese steel to be removedby the grinding is materially less than would be required if the bearingwere over the whole adjacent surface. By this construction also thenecessity of further finishing the walls of the bolt-openings is avoidedand which finishingis not practicable with the means necessary to beused to work this material.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the construction of the door issuch that if the back plate J be forced inwardly toward the center ofthe safe by any explosive within the door or by violence it will carrywith it the small screw and washer and the rocking plate I and theseveral pins, thereby leaving the bolts in their locking position, owingto the provision of the headless pins 1.

The term safe as used herein and in th claims is to be construed asincluding a vault, strong box, or other analogous structure, while theterm ring as used herein and in the claims is not to be limited to acircular flange, head, or projection, but includes within its scopewhatever form of means will accomplish the object set forth herein,since in oval or square doors this ring will conform to the shape of thedoor.

I claim as my invention 1. A safe comprising an integral safe-bodyhaving a circular door-opening and made of hard, tough, unmachinablemetal of increased thickness around such door-opening, said door-openinghaving an elongated joint-surface provided with a continuous grooveadapted to .perform the double function. of inducing a uniformity ofthickness of metal around said door-opening in the production of thecasting and serving to receive the lock- ICC IIf

ing-bolts; and an integral door of channelshaped cross-section also madeof hard, tough, unmachinable metal and having 2. corresponding longjoint-surface, substantially as described.

2. A safe comprising an integral safe-body made of hard, tough,unmachinable metal, and having a doorway and an abruptly-presentedexternal bead or flange and an internal flange around such doorway, thetwo providing a long joint-surface at the jamb, the bearing-surface ofsaid jamb containing a continuous groove contributing to restrict thebody of metal at the jamb and aid in securing toughness thereofcorresponding with the thickness and conditions at the other parts ofthe body, the bearing-face of the jamb being continuously tapered infront of said groove and having an offset in the rear thereof, and adoor of a thickness approximating that of the body and having aninternal flange, substantially as described.

' 3. A safe-door of channel-shaped cross-section made integral of hard,tough, unmachinable metal having flaring apertures through the flangefor the passage of locking-bolts, and also having raisedbearing-surfaces for said bolts, substantially as described.

4. A safe comprising a body having solid walls and made in one piece ofhard, tough, un machinable metal with adoorwayand with an increasedthickness of metal adjacent to such doorway, forming an elongated,taperingjamb-surface; and a door, channel-shaped in cross-section andmade in one piece of similar material, the joint between said door andbody being without steps in front of the bolts,and havinga step in therear of the bolts, substantially as described.

5. A burglar-proof safe comprising a body having a doorway with anelongated jambsurface; a door having a flange provided withbolt-apertures, each of said parts made of a single piece of hard,tough, unmachinable material, ground to a tightly-matching condition; ahinge supporting said door on said body; and a series of locking-boltslocated to be projected through said apertures in different directionsfrom the door into the jamb, said door having surfaces of small area inposition to support and guide the bolts, substantially as described.

6. A door comprising a body and a flange, said flange havingbolt-apertures and said body having a series of raised bearing-surfaceslocated inside of said flange and in position to support the bolts intheir working positions.

7. A safe-body having a doorway and a pair of flanges located aroundsaid doorway, and projecting in opposite directions whereby one projectsforwardly of the body and the other projects rearwardly into theinterior of such body thereby to form an elongated jamb, said jambhaving bolt-receiving means therein.

8. A door comprising a body and a flange sa d flange havingbolt-apertures and said body having a series of raised bearing-surfaceslocated inside of said flange and in position to support the bolts intheir working position, and each of said apertures also having one ormore raised bearing-su rfaces cooperating with the bearing-surfaces ofthe body to support the bolts.

9. A safe-body having a doorway and a forwardly and a rearwardlyextending flange lo cated around said doorway and forming an elongatedjamb, said jamb having a groove therein, the outer contiguous face ofsaid forwardly-extending flange being substantially square with thejamb-surface.

10. An integral safe-bod y having a doorway and an external and aninternal flange located around said doorway, said flanges projecting inopposite directions and forming an elongated jamb provided with a groovetherein and with an offset at one side of said groove.

11. An integral safe-body having a doorway and an externaland aninternal flange located around said doorway and forming an elongatedjamb provided with a groove located therein, and an oifset located inthe rear of said groove.

12. A safe-body provided with a doorway and having located around saiddoorway a flange or projection integral with a part of said body, withits outer face, contiguous to the jamb of such doorway, substantiallysquare therewith, said projection having a distinct line of demarcationat its juncture-point with the body, and said jamb having a groovelocated therein.

13. A safe comprising a body having a doorway, and an external flangeintegral with a part of said body and located around said doorway andforming an elongated jamb, said jamb having a groove therein, and a doorhaving an elongated joint-surface corresponding with that of said jamband adapted to fit into said doorway, the outer marginal face of saiddoor being substantially flush with the outer contiguous face of saidflange.

14. A safe comprising an integral body having a doorway and an externaland an internal flange located around said doorway and forming anelongated jamb provided with a groove therein and with an offset at oneside of said groove; and a door channel-shaped in cross-section adaptedto flt into said doorway and having an elongated joint-surface, and anoffset adapted to register with said jamboffset.

15. An integral safe-body formed in one piece and having a doorway, andprovided around such doorway with an interiorly-located flangeprojecting rearwardly into the interior of said body and forming anelongated jamb having a bolt-receiving groove therein, the innermostface of said flange being free of juncture with the sides of said body.

16. An integral safe door comprising a body and a flange, said flangehaving flaring bolt-apertures for the passage of locking-bolts,

around such doorway, the jarnb of such doorway having therein an openingfor the reception of a bolt and an offset in the rear of said opening;and an integral door adapted to fit into said doorway and comprising abody and a flange, said flange having an offset registering with theoffset of the doorwayjamb, and also having a bolt-aperture intermediateits offset and body.

19. A safe com prisinga body provided with a doorway and with anexternal and an internal bead or flange located around said doorway, thejamb of said doorway having therein an opening for the reception of abolt and an offset in the rear of said opening; and

. an integral door adapted to fit into said doorway and comprising abody and a flange, said-flange having an oflset registering with theoffset of the doorway-jamb and also havin g a bolt-apertureintermediatejts offset and body. 7

20. A safe comprising a body provided with a doorway and with anexternal and an internal head or flange located around said doorway, thejamb of said doorway having therein an annular groove for the receptionof tangular flaring apertures for the passage of locking-bolts, and anoffset in the rear of said apertures, and said door having acentrallylocated boss cooperating with the inner ends of the bolts, anda plurality of raised bearingfaces in engagement with each of saidbolts.

22. A safe comprising an integral body having a doorway and havingincreased thickness around such doorway, the outer marginal face of suchbody around the doorway being substantially square with thejoint-surface of the doorway, said joint-surface having a groove locatedtherein for the reception of bolts, and an integral door comprising abody and a flange, said flange having bolt-apertures for the passage ofbolts, the outer marginal surface of said door being substantiallysquare with the periphery thereof and flush with the outer marginal faceof said body.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix mysignature inpresence of two witnesses.

HENRY D. HIBBARD.

Witnesses:

M. F. BOYLE, J. B. CLAUTICE.

